Skip to main content
Log in

Relationship of airborne endotoxin and bacteria levels in pig farms with the lung function and respiratory symptoms of farmers

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Previous studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of respiratory and other symptoms and a decrement in lung function among pig farm workers, although the relationships with specific agents present in the work environment remain obscure. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the relationship between symptoms, lung function and airborne endotoxin, ammonia and dust levels in piggeries. Information on symptoms, lung function, endotoxin, ammonia and dust levels was available for 183 pig farmers who worked in 136 farms. For 62 farms information was present on the levels of bacteria and gram-negative bacteria. For these 62 farms, endotoxin exposure measurements were taken in more than one stable. In general, no significant correlations were found between lung function and chronic respiratory symptoms, or dust and ammonia levels. The endotoxin concentration in stables was negatively related to most lung function variables, but only for the subgroup of 62 farmers was a statistically significant relationship found between endoxtoxin exposure and FEV1. A borderline statistically significant and negative relationship was found between the endotoxin concentration and the FVC. Symptoms experienced during or shortly after work showed odds ratios larger than one with the levels of bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin, indicating a positive relationship. No consistency in the relationship between symptoms and dust levels was found. The results suggest that endotoxins and (gram-negative) bacteria probably play an important role in the development of symptoms and lung function changes among pig farmers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Attwood P, Versloot P, Heederik D, Wit R de, Boleij JSM (1986) Assessment of dust and endotoxin levels in the working environment of Dutch pig farmers: a preliminary study. Ann Occup Hyg 30:201–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Attwood P, Brouwer R, Ruigewaard P, Versloot P, Wit R de, Heederik D, Boleij JSM (1987) A study of relationship between airborne contaminants and environmental factors in Dutch swine confinement buildings. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 48:745–751

    Google Scholar 

  • Biersteker K, Dijk WH van, Eissens JBMF, Geuns HA van (1974) The prevalence of CNSLD in male municipal employees in Rotterdam (in Dutch; Englisch abstract). T Soc Geneesk 32:158–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Biersteker K, Willems H, Smid T (1984) A postal survey of health and working conditions of Dutch farmers. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Congress in Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health, Christchurch, New Zealand

  • Bongers P, Houthuijs D, Remijn B, Brouwer R, Biersteker K (1987) Lung function and respiratory symptoms in pig farmers. Br J Ind Med 44:819–823

    Google Scholar 

  • BMRC (1966) British Medical Research Council's Committee on Research into Chronic Bronichitis. Instructions for the use of the questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Medical Research Council, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brouwer R, Biersteker K, Bongers P, Remijn B, Houthuijs D (1986) Respiratory symptoms, lung function, and IgG4 levels against pig antigens in a sample of Dutch pig farmers. In: Rylander R, Donham KJ, Peterson Y (eds) Health effects of organic dust in the farm environment. Proceedings of an International Workshop. Skokloster, Sweden, April 23–25, 1985. Am J Ind Med 10:283–285

  • Castellan RM, Olenchock SA, Hankinson JL, Millner PD, Cock JB, Bragg CK, Perkins HH, Jacobs RR (1984) Acute broncho-constriction induced by cotton dust: dose-related responses to endotoxin and other dust factors. Ann Internal Med 101:157–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Castellan RM, Olenchock SA, Kinsley KB, Hankinson JL (1987) Inhaled endotoxin and decreased spirometric values. An exposure-response relation for cotton dust. N Engl J Med 317:605–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark S, Rylander R, Larsson L (1983) Airborne bacteria, endotoxin and fungi in dust in poultry and swine confinement buildings. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 44:537–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis SE, Drummond JG, Kelley KW, Grunloh DJ, Meares VJ, Norton HW, Jensen AH (1975) Diurnal and annual fluctuations of aerial bacteria and dust levels in enclosed swine houses. J Animal Sci 41:1502–1511

    Google Scholar 

  • Donham KJ (1986) Hazardous agents in agricultural dust and methods of evaluation. In: Rylander R, Donham KJ, Peterson Y (eds) Health effects of organic dust in the farm environment. Proceedings of an International Workshop. Skokloster, Sweden, April 23–25, 1985. Am J Ind Med 10:205–220

  • Donham KJ, Popendorf W (1985) Ambient levels of selected gases inside swine confinement buildings. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 46:658–661

    Google Scholar 

  • Donham KJ, Rubino M, Thedell TD, Kammermeyer J (1977) Potential health hazards to agricultural workers in swine confinement buildings. J Occup Med 19:383–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Donham KJ, Knapp LW, Manson R, Gustafson K (1982) Acute toxic exposure to gases from liquid manure. J Occup Med 24:142–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Donham KJ, Zavala DC, Merchant JA (1984a) Respiratory symptoms and lung function amongst workers in swine confinement buildings: a cross sectional epidemiological study. Arch Environ Health 39:96–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Donham KJ, Zavala DC, Merchant JA (1984b) Acute effects of the work environment on pulmonary function of swine confinement workers. Am J Ind Med 5:367–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Donham KJ, Haglind P, Peterson Y, Rylander R, Belin L (1989) Environmental and health studies of farm workers in Swedisch swine confinement buildings. Br J Ind Med 46:31–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Dosman JA, Graham BL, Hall D, Pahwa P, McDuffie HH, Lucewicz M, To T (1988) Respiratory symtpoms and alterations in pulmonary function tests in swine producers in Saskatchewan: results of a survey of farmers. J Occup Med 30:715–720

    Google Scholar 

  • Haglind P, Rylander R (1987) Occupational exposure and lung function measurements among workers in swine confinement buildings. J Occup Med 29:904–907

    Google Scholar 

  • Heederik D, Burdorf L, Boleij J, Willems H, Bilsen J van (1987) Pulmonary function and intradermal tests in workers exposed to soft-paper dust. Am J Ind Med 11:637–645

    Google Scholar 

  • Holness DL, O'Blenis EL, Sas-Kortsak A, Pilger C, Nethercott JR (1987) Respiratory effects and dust exposure in hog confinement farming. Am J Ind Med 11:571–580

    Google Scholar 

  • LEI and CBS (1986) Statistical data on the agriculture in The Netherlands 1986. Landbouw Economisch Instituut, The Hague and Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Voorburg/Heerlen, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • doPico GA (1986) Report on diseases. In: Rylander R, Donham KJ, Peterson Y (eds) Health effects of organic dust in the farm environment. Proceedings of an International Workshop. Skokloster, Sweden, April 23–25, 1985. Am J Ind Med 10:261–265

  • doPico GA (1990) Guidelines for evaluation of clinical cases, questionnaires and clinical testing. In: Organic dusts and lung disease. Proceedings of an International Workshop. Skokloster, Sweden, October 24–27, 1988. Am J Ind Med 17:132–139 Quanjer PH (ed) (1983) Standardized lung function testing. Report of the working group “Standardization of the lung function” of the European Committee for Coal and Steel, Luxembourg. Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir 19 [Suppl 5] :1–95

  • Rylander R (1987) The role of endotoxin for reactions after exposure to cotton dust. Am J Ind Med 12:687–697

    Google Scholar 

  • Rylander R, Haglind P, Lundholm M (1985) Endotoxin in cotton dust and respiratory function decrement among cotton workers in an experimental cardroom. Am Rev Respir Dis 131:209–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Rylander R, Donham KJ, Peterson Y (eds) (1986) Health effects of organic dust in the farm environment. Proceedings of an International Workshop. Skokloster, Sweden, April 23–25, 1985. Am J Ind Med 10: 193–340

  • Rylander R, Donham KJ, Hjort C, Brouwer R, Heederik D (1989) Effects after exposure to dust in swine confinement buildings — summary from a work shop. Scand J Work Environ Health 15:309–312

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1985) SAS user's guides: basics & statistics, 5th edn. SAS Institute, Cary, NC

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlesselman JJ (1982) Case-control studies: design, conduct, analysis. Monographs in epidemiology and biostatistics. Oxford University Press, New York Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheen AS, Ely RM (1980) Evaluation of calibration of spirometers. Ann Allergy 45:127–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Smid T, Heederik D (1988) Working history and lung function in an animal feed mill. Sixth International Symposium on Epidemiology in Occupational Health. Stockholm, Sweden, 16–18 August

  • Smid T, Schokkin E, Boleij JSM, Heederik D (1989) Enumeration of viable fungi in occupational environments. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 50:235–239

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heederik, D., Brouwer, R., Biersteker, K. et al. Relationship of airborne endotoxin and bacteria levels in pig farms with the lung function and respiratory symptoms of farmers. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 62, 595–601 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381114

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381114

Key words

Navigation